Balfour to drop underutilized health program

Published: Tuesday, November 13, 2012 at 9:26 p.m.

Last Modified: Tuesday, November 13, 2012 at 9:26 p.m.

Because of low enrollment and difficulties retaining qualified instructors, the Henderson County School Board voted Tuesday to close a health occupation program at Balfour Education Center and open a new firefighters' academy in its place.

Human Resources Director Bo Caldwell told the board the Health Science program that trains students to become pharmacy technicians, medical technicians and other health workers will continue at other county high schools.

However, attempts to maintain the program at Balfour — a non-traditional high school focused on technical and vocational classes — have suffered from low enrollment, Caldwell said. That's partly because enrollment in those classes at other high schools has not exceeded capacity, as originally expected.

“We initially saw the (Balfour health occupation) classes handling some overflow from other high schools,” he said.

Caldwell added that retaining qualified instructors for the health science program “has been a challenge.” There have been six instructors at Balfour since the 2003-04 school year, he said.

“We've basically had a hard time keeping a teacher in that program,” Caldwell told the board.

About four years ago, the health occupation program — as it was then known — was placed at Balfour to offer its students the chance to gain the skills and experience necessary to enter the growing health field, said Balfour Principal Kent Parent. The idea, he said, was also for them to serve the “overflow” from other high schools' health classes that had reached capacity.

“There's not much of an overflow anymore, and the students that are going that track are finding (those classes) at their base schools,” Parent said. “But we don't have a firefighter academy anywhere else.”

Parent said a new transportation schedule will allow students from any county high school to travel to Balfour for firefighting classes, then return to their home school in time for lunch. The same will hold true for students who want to take automotive classes, which are now only offered at North Henderson High.

“We're transforming Balfour back into the true education center concept that it was designed for seven or eight years ago,” Parent said.

Starting in January, the firefighter academy will allow students to earn up to 80 percent of the necessary courses to be hired as firefighters at local fire departments. Parent said he's working with Blue Ridge Community College toward the goal of offering the remaining 20 percent of coursework necessary for students to be certified.

“You have how many students enrolled in (the firefighting academy) at this point, or do you know?” asked school board member Mary Louise Corn.

“At this point, we do not know,” Caldwell said. “I think we're out talking to students at the different high schools about the program.”

<p>Because of low enrollment and difficulties retaining qualified instructors, the Henderson County School Board voted Tuesday to close a health occupation program at Balfour Education Center and open a new firefighters' academy in its place.</p><p>Human Resources Director Bo Caldwell told the board the Health Science program that trains students to become pharmacy technicians, medical technicians and other health workers will continue at other county high schools. </p><p>However, attempts to maintain the program at Balfour — a non-traditional high school focused on technical and vocational classes — have suffered from low enrollment, Caldwell said. That's partly because enrollment in those classes at other high schools has not exceeded capacity, as originally expected.</p><p>“We initially saw the (Balfour health occupation) classes handling some overflow from other high schools,” he said. </p><p>Caldwell added that retaining qualified instructors for the health science program “has been a challenge.” There have been six instructors at Balfour since the 2003-04 school year, he said.</p><p>“We've basically had a hard time keeping a teacher in that program,” Caldwell told the board.</p><p>About four years ago, the health occupation program — as it was then known — was placed at Balfour to offer its students the chance to gain the skills and experience necessary to enter the growing health field, said Balfour Principal Kent Parent. The idea, he said, was also for them to serve the “overflow” from other high schools' health classes that had reached capacity.</p><p>“There's not much of an overflow anymore, and the students that are going that track are finding (those classes) at their base schools,” Parent said. “But we don't have a firefighter academy anywhere else.”</p><p>Parent said a new transportation schedule will allow students from any county high school to travel to Balfour for firefighting classes, then return to their home school in time for lunch. The same will hold true for students who want to take automotive classes, which are now only offered at North Henderson High. </p><p>“We're transforming Balfour back into the true education center concept that it was designed for seven or eight years ago,” Parent said. </p><p>Starting in January, the firefighter academy will allow students to earn up to 80 percent of the necessary courses to be hired as firefighters at local fire departments. Parent said he's working with Blue Ridge Community College toward the goal of offering the remaining 20 percent of coursework necessary for students to be certified.</p><p>“You have how many students enrolled in (the firefighting academy) at this point, or do you know?” asked school board member Mary Louise Corn.</p><p>“At this point, we do not know,” Caldwell said. “I think we're out talking to students at the different high schools about the program.”</p>